Even his body was unfamiliar to him. New scars puckered skin that used to be unmarred. His bones jutted in a way they hadn’t before he’d lost weight in the past few days. Elven healing magic could do much, but it still took a toll on a body. And right now, his body showed that cost.
Once he finished dressing, he located his cane and tottered from his room. In the daylight, the stairs weren’t as much anobstacle as they had been in the dark the night before, and he made his way to the kitchen without too much trouble.
There, he found the leftovers of breakfast covered with a towel and set in the oven to keep them warm.
Outside, laughter rang, punctuated by voices. Mama must have taken Ellie and Tryndar outside to let him sleep.
He could have joined them and eaten there. Instead, he sat down at the small table beneath the black telephone. His stomach churned, his hand trembled, but he picked up the earpiece and jiggled the lever to ring the operator.
When the operator spoke, he gave directions to Uncle Iyrinder and Aunt Patience’s house in Estyra.
He waited while a series of operators made the connections between Treehaven and the house in Estyra until finally the telephone rang far away. He poked at his breakfast with a fork, but he couldn’t bring himself to take a bite.
Would anyone be there? If Merrik was still in the elven hospital in Estyra, Aunt Patience would likely be with him. Merrik’s little sister was probably staying with Merrik’s elven aunt and uncle.
Yet after only three rings, there was a click, then Aunt Patience’s voice came over the crackling line. “Hello, this is Patience.”
“Hello, Aunt Patience.” Fieran gripped the earpiece tighter as he leaned forward to speak into the receiver.
“Fieran.” Aunt Patience breathed his name out on a sigh weighty with relief. “We’ve all been worried. How are you? You must be recovering well if you’re home and able to get to the telephone.”
“Yes. I came home from the hospital yesterday.” Fieran hesitated before he could bring himself to ask. “How is Merrik? Is he still in the hospital?”
“He’s home, but I’m afraid he won’t be able to come to the telephone.” Aunt Patience’s pause held the weight of words she hesitated to say. “It’s only been a week since both of you crashed. He’s understandably still struggling, even if he is physically healing well.”
Fieran slumped even more against the table, stirring the now cold eggs around on his plate. Why had he hoped for a different answer? Merrik had lost his leg. His other leg was so mangled the elves had barely saved it, and they hadn’t been able to promise he would be able to walk on it even once it healed.
Yet he’d still hoped.
“Can you let him know I called?” Fieran’s voice scratched roughly in his throat. “And that I’m here if he wants to call back. Once he can get to a telephone.”
“I’ll let him know.” Aunt Patience’s voice was soft, barely carrying over the crackle in the line.
“Thanks.” Fieran swallowed, trying to clear his throat. “Can you transfer me to Adry? If she’s home?”
“I don’t know if she’s in, but I’ll transfer you.” Aunt Patience’s tone steadied.
After they exchanged farewells, a few more clicks sounded. Another telephone rang.
A click, and then Adry’s voice. “Hello?”
“Hello, Adry.” Fieran rested his forehead on his hand, something inside him easing at hearing his sister’s voice. She’d been the only family member he hadn’t seen or spoken with since his crash, and he hadn’t realized how much that had mattered to him until just now.
“Fieran!” Adry all but shouted into the telephone. “You’re all right. You’re calling.Areyou all right? Hearing about the crash…”
“I know. And I’m sorry.” He couldn’t imagine how hard it must have been for her, getting the news from either Dacha orMama. And she was stuck so very far away in Estyra. “But I’m fine.”
“Good.” Adry said that single word with such feeling that the emotion carried even across the long telephone lines.
“I just talked with Aunt Patience.” Fieran couldn’t make himself say more than that.
“Yeah.” Adry sighed. She, too, didn’t say more than that.
“Can you…can you be there for him?” Fieran stabbed at the eggs on his plate. They were unappetizing, rubbery lumps by now.
“Of course I will be. He’s my friend too.” Adry almost sounded insulted that he would suggest that she wouldn’t be there for Merrik without Fieran’s prompting.
“I know, I know. I just…it kills me that he’s going through all this, and I’m not there for him.” Fieran scrubbed a hand over his face. They were like brothers. In any other circumstances, Fieran would have been there every step of the way for Merrik’s recovery. And Merrik would have been there for him.
